Manufacture of metal caps and the like



July 1,4, 1925. f 1,546,091

, B. S. LEWIS MANUFACTURE 0F METAL CA'I-S AND THB LIKE July 14, 1925. 1,546,091 B. S. LEWIS 1 MANUFACTURE OF METAL CAPS AND THE LIKE Filed June 2v. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Patented July 14, 1925. g A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRAYTON S. LEWIS, NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO TIE-IE` STANLEY WORKS, 0F BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, .A GQBEORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MANUFAGTURE 0F 'METAL CAPS AND THE LIKE.

Application iled June 27, 1.921. VSerial No. 480,544.

vide an improved method and a new and advantageous machine for expeditiously and economically shaping, threading and knurling articles, such as caps for grease cups.

Broadly considered, my invention contemplates forming or shaping a cap and simultaneously internally threading the same by means of a threaded plunger or male die and a reducing die, externallyiknurling the cap while it is on the male die, and then unscrewing the cap from the die, preferably by means of the knurling tools, which, at the same time, are backed or slid oft' of the cap.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment which the machine of the present invention mav take, but it is to be clearly understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only as the invention is susceptible .of other modifications.y and that the terms used are merely terms of description and not in any sense terms of limitation.

ln these drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the entire machine, in vertical longitudinal section. n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing, in section, the dies and the knurling head, and

Fig. 3 is a forward end view of theknurling head with parts broken away for purposes of illustration. Y

rThe general arrangement and organization of the parts of the machine will be readily understood from Fig. 1, wherein a: is a frame or base from the intermediate portion of which arises'a web or standard 10 in which is mounted a female or reducing die Z) with which cooperates a male die c carried by a ram al mounted for reciprocation in suitable guide-ways on the base a and actuated by a crank e. To the other or rear side of the reducing die b is a knurling head f carried by a spindle g mounted in suitable bearings in a carriage L, the movement of which is controlled by a cam z'.

is a vmagazine for feeding the cap blanks or shells ce one by one to a position in front of the reducing die b.

rlhepresent invention resides more particularly in the arrangement and construction of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Referring particularly to this figure, lit will be seen that the reducing die b has a flaring throat or mouth 11. The male die o is in the form of a cylindrical rod having its forward end threadedl as at 12. The knurling head f carriesv aplurality, in the present instance three, concentrically positioned knurlers 13 in the form of longitudinally corrugated rollers and these knurlers are rotatably mounted upon suitable studs 14. Fixed to each roller 13 is a ratchet 16 with which cooperates a spring pressed pawlvl', the arrangement beingsuch that when the head f is rotated` in one direction, therollers 13 and their associated ratchets 16 are free to rotate on their own axes, but when the rotation of the head is reversed, the pawls lock Vthe ratchets and knurlers against rotation'on their own axes. In the present instance. the p-awls 1,7 are mounted for radial sliding movementv and are normally urged inwardly by springs 18.

1n operation, when the ram ai is moved vinto the withdrawn or retracted position kmetal of. the shell .will be caused to How vinto the grooves of the thread 12 so that the .internal periphery'of the cap is given a thread complementary to the thread 12. The male die c with the drawn cap thereon y comes to rest in the position shown in full lines, Figs. 1 and 2, and then the knurling head is moved forwardly to the position shown and is rotated in the same direction as that in which. the thread 12 runs, and in which direction the knurlers are free to turn on their own aXes so that they have a rolling contact with the cap' and thereby knurl y the same. After the knurling operation is completed, the knurlers are maintained in engagement with the cap and the knurling head is rotated in the opposite direction. whereupon the pawls 17 become effective to lock the kn'urlers against rotation on Vtheir oivn axes. During this reverse rotation of the knurlin-g head the capis unscrewed from the male die and this unscrewi'ng operationV is facilitated due to the fact that the knurling of the cap slightly increases the internal diameter thereof thereby loosening the cap from the male die. In unscrewing the capi, the thread thereon is chased or smoothed up by the thread on then'i'ale die. During the unscrewingA of the'` cap from` the male die, the knurling head is backed away from the male die at arate of movement slightly greater than at which the cap' is unscrewe'd, so that at the time the cap has been' entirely unscrewed, the knurllers are gripping the cap at its closed end, and thus crushing of the cap by the knurlers is prevented. The ram di carrying the male die, is now Withdrawn and then immediately advanced and duringf this cycle of movement of the ram, continued backward movement-of the knurling headbrings the' formed cap into' engagement with a 'stationary-'rod 19 fixed/to the frame of the machine a and ext-ending through'the spindle resulting in ejection of the cap' from between rthe lnurlers; a new-shell'drops in front'ofthe reducingdie; and this shell is-forced through the reducing die; l

It is, ofcourse, understood*V that the morcinents of the plunger ormale' die and the knu'rling head may be brought and controlled in any suitable manner. By Way of illustration I have shown, in Fig 1,'the knul-ling head as being 'driven in a direction to lniurl through the gears 2l and gear 22 and in the opposite direction, during which the cap is unscreued from the male die, throughthe gears 24;.- The gears 24: are loose on but non-shiftable Withrespect to thc'spindle g" and on the respective opposed4 faces of these gears are clutch teeth 25]* 26 adapted to be engaged, one at a time, by a clutch member 27 keyed tothe spindle g and rotatably lmountedjvithifn a bearing 28 carried by a slide 29. The slide is mounted for reciprocating movement in the carriage 7L and the extent of this movement is limited by the abutments 80. The slide 29' carries aroll r 3l Which works in the cam groove 32 of the cam v1 and which is driven at a reduced rate of speed through suitable gear `mechanism Within the gear box 33. It will be understood that the cam groove 32 is of sueh shape that, (starting With theknurling head in retracted position, and the clutch member 27 in neutral position) it will move the vslide 29 to the left, .referring to the drawings, thereby engaging the clut'cli mem-- ber 27 with the teeth 25 and then* the slide ind carriage- /t Will move forvvard'ly'in unison until the knurling head is in the operal tive position shown inV Figs l and 2; the

carriage and slide remain at rest' vin 'this positioi'i until the linurlnrg complet-ed; then the cam groove 32 moves theslide 2S) to the right to engage the clutch member 27 with theV 'teeth 2G Wliere'upon the hn'urling headis rotate-d in a tirecti'on to unsc're'w the cap from the male die and during this unserening operation the carriage moved to slowly back olf rthe'lniurlers from the cap, After the hnurling head has been moved to a position Where the finished cap has been ejected therefrom by the rod 19, the cam groove 32 Will'move 'the slide'29 into neutral position and it Will remain in this position: until the ram di has made another cyclea that is9 has been retracted to permit a new shell to drop in front of the reducing die and then adY` vanced to forcev this 'shell through theY reducing die For the purpose of properly tiniing the movementof thel male die, theram (l is controlled, through a one-revolution Clutch Z and the rod 35, by a cam member 96 on the Cam.

I claiml as my invention 1. The herein described methodof manufacture' which consists in simultaneonel)Y shaping and internally threading` an article by drawing a blank over the threaded die land through a reducing die, manipulating the ymetal of the article vto slightly increase the diameter there-of', and then 'unscrewing thev article from the threaded die,r

Q. The herein described method of manufacture which consists in simultaneously shaping and internallythreading an article by drawing a metal blank over the threaded die, circumferentially rolling the metal of the article LWhile on the die, and then unscreiving the article from the d-ie. I rfhe herein described method of manufacture which consists in simultaneously shaping and threading an'article by drawing a metal blank over tl'ireaded die, and

llll

simultaneously knul-ling and circu'i'nfereni tially i" on the.,

il.v The herein described method of manufacture `vhi" h consists in simultaneoi'isly shaping and internally threadingan articley by" drawing a metal blankv over threaded die, and lniirli'n'g' the said article While on the die by rolling a manipulating member thereabcut; y y

5, The' l'ierein desc-,ribed-n'1e'thod' of manie fatnr'e W'hich consists 'y in simultaneously sha-ping and internally threading an article by drai'vinga metal" blafnli over ai threaded die, manipulating the metal of said article by a suitable' nl'e'niber toV slightly increase tle'iiternal diameter thereof, and then unscrewving the article from the die by ine-ane of `said member. y v 6. The herein described method fof manufacture which consists in simultaneously shaping andr internally threading an article by'V drawing a blank over' a threaded die,

ingthe metal ofthe article While rolling manipulating members about the circumference of said article While on the die, locking said members against rotation relative to said article, and revolving said members in a direction to nnscreW the article vfrom said die.

7. The herein described method of manufacture which consists in simultaneously`1 shaping and internally threading an article by drawing a blank over a threaded die, rolling corrugated members (about the cir-- cumierence or' the article While on the die, locking said members against rotation relative to the article, revolving the members in. a direction to unscrew the article from the die, and backing the members oil oi the article while itl is being unscreWed from sait'. die.

S. ln a. machine of the character described, a threaded die and a reducing die, a rotatable head, and knnrling rollers mounted in said head for rolling contact with the article shaped on said threaded die.

9. 1n amachine of the character describe-d, a threaded die, a reducing die, means for moving said threaded die through said reducing die and then maintaining it at rest, a rotatable head in axial lalinement with said threaded die, knurling rollers mounted in said head, and means for moving said head into and out of operative position.

10. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die, means for shaping a blank thereon, a member for manipulating the metal of the blank While it is on said die, a device for locking said manipulating member against movement relative to the article, and means for moving said manipulating member in a direction to unscreiv the shaped article from said die.

11. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die, and means for shaping a metal blank thereon, means 'for manipulating the metal of the blank While it is on said die, and means for rotating said manipulating means first in one direction to eiiect manipulation of the metal and then in the opposite direction to unscrew the shaped article from said die.

1Q. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die, means for shaping a blank thereon, a rotatable head provided with a plurality of knurling rollers, means ier moving said head into and out or" operative position, and means for rotating said head in one direction to knurl the shaped article and then in the opposite direction to nnscrew the article from said threaded die, said knurling rollers being locked against rotation relative to said head when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction.

13. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die and a cooperating reducing die, a rotatable head, a member rotatably mounted therein for manipulating the metal oi a blank shaped on said threaded die, means for rotating said head in one direction to cause said member to manipulate the metal and then in the'reverse direction to unscreiv the shaped article from said threaded die, and a device for locking said manipulating member against movement relative to the shaped article when said head is rotated in lthe reverse direction.

14. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die, and cooperating means for shaping a metal blank thereon, means i'or manipulating the metal of the blank shaped on said die, means ior rotating said manipulating means iirst in one direction to effect the manipulating of the metal of the shaped article and then in the opposite direction to unscreW the article from said die, and means for backing said manipulating means off of the article during the unscrewing operation.

15. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die and cooperating means for shaping a metal blank thereon, a rotary head, a knurling roller mounted therein, means for rotating said head in one direction to knurl the shaped article and then in the opposite direction to unscreW the article from said die, a device for locking said roller against movement relative to the article When said head is rotated in the opposite direction, and means Jfor backing o said roller from the article during the unscreWing operation.

' 16. In a machine of the character described, a threaded die and cooperating means for shaping a metal blank thereon, a rotary head, a knurling roller mounted therein, means for rotating said head in one direction to knurl the shaped article and then in the opposite direction to unscrew the article 'trom said die, a device Jior locking said roller against movement relative to the article when said head is rot-ated in the opposite direction, means Jfor backing oii said roller from the article during the unscretving operation, and means for 'ejecting the article from said head.

17. In a machine of the character described, a reducing die and a threaded die, means for moving said threaded die through said reducing die and then maintaining it at rest, a rotatable head in axial alinement with said threaded die and provided with knurling rollers, means for moving said head into and out of operative position, means tor rotating said head first in one direction to knurl the shaped article and then in the opposite direction to unscrew the article `from the threaded die, and means for locking said rollers against rotation relative to said head during the unscrevving operation, said rollers being backed oif the article during the unscrevving operation.

18. In a machine of the character described, a reducing die and a threaded die, operating means -for moving said threaded die through said reducing die, a` sldaible carriage, a knurling` head mounted in suite able bearings in said carriage, a cam for moving said carriage into and out of operative position, means for rotating said head iirst in one direction to lnurl the shaped article and then in the opposite direction to unscrew the article from said threaded die', and means associated With said cam controlling said operating means.

19. In a machine of the character' described, a rotary head, a lnurling roller mounted therein, and a ratchet mechanism for automatically locking; said roller against rotation relative to said headl When the latter is rotated in a given direction.

20. In a machine of the character described, a slidable carriage, a knurling head mounted in suitable bearings thereon, means .for rotating' said head including a reverse clutch, a slide having limited'movement on said carriage and connected to the shiftable member of said clutch, and a cam for moving said slide and said carriage.

BRAYTON s. Lewis.y 

